Our next fun-for-the-family, good-for-the-community event is just around the corner!

All day, in the Big Y parking lot, both Stony Hill and Hawleyville Volunteer Fire Departments will be collecting food to benefit the Bethel and Newtown food banks. Afterwards, there will be a tree lighting and festivities!

We were joined by 250 people and our 2 volunteer fire departments collected more than double the amount of food we collected in 2008. We had two vans (one for Newtown, one for Bethel) and all the food didn’t fit in those vans! Read below to learn more about the food drive and festivities.

A message from Nick Santarelli of the WHIZard Academy for the Brotherhood in Action.

This year the efforts of the SH4C Merchants Association and our 2 volunteer fire departments more than doubled what we collected for 2008. We loaded 2 vans with food (one for Newtown, one for Bethel).

Additionally when I tried to leave to help unload at the Bethel pantry before I could leave my Subaru Outback was completely filled. The estimated weight of food collected that is now at Brother in Action in Bethel was approximately 2000 lbs.

That very morning volunteers distributed food to 87 families in Bethel and it’s my understanding that a similar amount was delivered in Newtown to those in need. We also had cash donations totaling $446 and change. These funds will be split between the two food pantries. Monetary funds are typically used to purchase additional needed foods at the larger pantry in Fairfield where significant amounts of food can be purchased at a fraction of its normal cost. Ocassionally funds are also used to pay heating or electric bills for those in need when the weather becomes an issue. In these cases checks are written directly to the utility company.

This Thanksgiving we can all be thankful for each other in our great association of merchants and our 2 local emergency groups as well as the great generosity of those who contributed with food or dollars to help others keeping in mind that many who donated may also be having a tough time themselves. It never ceases to amaze me that the worse things seem to get, the more people are willing to help others. Thanks to all.